A Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) is an automatic device that allows
consumers to feed in used beverage containers (e.g., plastic
beverage containers) for an instant rebate. It is usually equipped
with a scanning function to verify the barcodes on containers to
ensure that only designated containers are accepted.
The
Environmental Protection Department has already rolled out a pilot
scheme in the first quarter of 2021 to test the application of RVMs
in Hong Kong for collecting plastic beverage containers. Stage 2 of
the pilot scheme will launch in the second quarter of 2022; it will
increase more number of RVMs and enhance the user experience with
the operation of RVMs and participate in recycling plastic beverage
containers.
They start opening a construction bidding
program to find a company to help them to build and develop the
RVM's stage 2 of the pilot scheme. An SME company has employed
me to participate in the bidding program. At last, we successfully
strive with the final round of the bidding progress.
This project took place between June 2021. I worked on this project
as a User Experience Designer and User Interface Designer at
Linkage Retail Solutions Limited.
As the sole designer for this project, my tasks
involved conducting user & market research, mapping out the user
journey, identity design, UX design, and prototyping for the first
version of a Recycle Vending Machine platform. For about four weeks,
I worked on this project to build and ship this research, with the
objective being to come up with an idea to solve user pain points.
This project aimed to identify any usability issues with the current RVM product. Then enhance the user's problem while using RVM.
I will be based on the Design Thinking process and aim to
incorporate the key phases of Discovery, Definition, Ideation, and
Implementation.
We are looking for ways to incentivize people to reduce used
beverage containers around the city. We thought people would be
incentivized to reduce waste by recycling the inorganic waste in
exchange for point credits as extrinsic motivation.
Numerous
case studies from the UK, China, & Singapore have recycling
vending machines that incentivize people to recycle waste and redeem
credits with money or gift.
Since there have existed, RVM has launched to the market. I can easily find out how the existing users use the RVM and the current paint point.
Besides that, I also interviewed some users who decided or
did not decide to use RMV. To figure out what makes them enhance the
usage rate of RVM.
All the respondents recycle, and some try their best to recycle
because they want to save the environment as well. 8 of 10 users
complain that the RVM only supporting special bottles is
inconvenient.
Four users think the introduction of RVM
is not clear. When the RVM is complete, it usually doesn't show
the status that the user can't use the machine. This frustrates
them when they spend their time doing the whole process and find out
it can not be used.
I created the persona based on the data collected from the Public observation and interview to illustrate the user’s needs and frustrations.
A product-based journey map helped to understand better the Reverse
Vending Machine and the user and their experience with them.
Based on the insights gained from the site observation, interviews, and personal and user journey map, I have evaluated problems with the potential user.
A quick wireframe to outline the structure and the information to be included in the different pages that make up the whole recycling process.
The visual design focused on being environmentally friendly and made its simple and welcoming brand identity more appealing to Environmental Protection Department.
By applying the usability test, I iterated a high-fidelity prototype. The interactive prototype can be viewed on adobe XD.
In this project, doing usability test without an RVM is challenging for the participant to imagine what is going on.
So I work with the developer term very close, which let me
have usability testing during an early stage of development. I
invite six participants for the test. Five out of six can complete
the task quickly and without confusion. They also think the reward
system is a good incentive for recycle.
Although we did a lot of work for this project, the Environmental
Protection Department didn't plan to accept our bidding
proposal.
But they thought our visual and the reward system
were doing a great job, so they invited us to do another part of the
project which focused on redeem system.
